Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Falco is fab in charming family dramedy with mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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I'll Be Right There
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE is a dramedy about Wanda (Edie Falco), a sandwich-generation single mom living in rural New York. At any given moment, Wanda, a self-employed bookkeeper, is ready to drop everything to help her two grown children—Sarah (Kayli Carter), who's eight months pregnant and about to marry her boyfriend, and Mark (Charlie Tahan), who's aimless, unemployed, and working through mental health challenges—as well as her aging mother, Grace (Jeannie Berlin), who believes she's dying of lung cancer. Wanda can never catch a break, but she doesn't really want one, no matter how exasperated she may seem. When she's not at her family's beck and call, Wanda has her own problems. Not only is she dating a doting long-term partner (Michael Rapaport), but she's secretly having an affair with English professor Sophie (Sepideh Moafi). As her mother and grown children continue to have minor and major crises, Wanda must figure out whether she'll continue to put all of their needs above her own.
Is It Any Good?
Falco shines in this quiet but substantive dramedy about a woman who's always there for everyone but herself. Director Brendan Walsh reunites with his Nurse Jackie star for this character-driven film that explores themes to which Gen X audiences in similar stages of life will particularly relate—i.e., when family duty crosses the line into martyrdom and enablement. All of the actors in I'll Be Right There are commendable, but it's Falco who's in every scene, grounding Wanda's story as a steadfast, over-involved mother and daughter who'd happily leave a date, work, or pretty much anywhere to go bail out (literally or figuratively) her kids or attend to her mom. Berlin is hilarious as the poker-loving, cigarette-smoking mom who wants Wanda to stop smothering her kids but definitely not to stop responding to her own requests for rides to and from specialists or the local casino. And Carter and Tahan are believable as young adults who are utterly unable to handle any conflict without their mother's guidance.
The men in the movie stand out, too, particularly Bradley Whitford as Wanda's remarried ex, Henry, who has three young kids, and Michael Beach as Albert, a high-school classmate with whom Wanda becomes quickly reacquainted. The screenplay doesn't judge Wanda too harshly for her choices, but the movie does serve as a cautionary tale for helicopter mothers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Wanda is a role model in I'll Be Right There. How does she demonstrate empathy, compassion, and gratitude?
How does the movie portray smoking and drinking? Do you think substance use is glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Discuss this depiction of middle-aged adults still doing a lot for their adult children, as well as their aging parents. Is it realistic? Do you think Wanda's commitment to her grown kids is healthy?
Both Wanda and her (still friendly) ex-husband are in age-gap relationships. Do you think there's a double standard about older men versus older women having younger romantic partners?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 6, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : September 27, 2024
- Cast : Edie Falco , Jeannie Berlin , Bradley Whitford , Kayli Carter
- Director : Brendan Walsh
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Brainstorm Media
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Communication
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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